The AAA Insurance National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Midwest Nationals return to Gateway Motorsports Park on Sept. 26-28, 2014 for one of the most exhilarating, heart-pounding, ear-popping weekends in St. Louis. This will be the 21st of 24 events in the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and is a key race in the “2014 Countdown to the Championship.”
Every ticket is a pit pass and gives every fan direct access to their favorite racers, cars, teams and to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on earth. Fans can stand within a few short feet of the crews as they crank up their cars, sending the smell of nitro fumes into the crowd. Bring a Sharpie for the readily available autographs and photo opps at every corner. On the Midway, manufacturers and sponsors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise and take-away souvenirs.
The NHRA Countdown to the Championship will feature all four professional categories: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Drivers in the Countdown to the Championship will be looking to gather all the points they can to this event, as the competition gets tighter and the spirits get more intense in the fight for the 2014 championships. .
The 2013 AAA Midwest Nationals winners at Gateway Motorsports Park were headlined by multi-time Funny Car Champion and International Motorsports Hall of Fame Member, John Force. Top Fuel driver Antron Brown and Pro Stock driver Erica Enders scored their second consecutive wins with both capturing the inaugural event in 2012. Matt Smith earned the title in Pro Stock Motorcycle in one of the most popular wins of the 2013 season.
The AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals will be celebrating all week, with family events for fans of all ages. Among the events, the NHRA Fanfest will be held on Thursday, September 25 at the new Ball Park Village. This fan-centered festival is free of charge with promotional cars and displays starting at 11 a.m.. A 12:30pm a press conference will be held for the media with lunch to follow. During the course of the day fans can get up close and personal with NHRA race cars, interactive displays, and other showcase vehicles. This party officially begins at 6 p.m. with music, ticket giveaways and games continuing until 8 p.m. The exclusive driver autograph session will take place on Ball Park Village’s “Field of Dreams” area from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. and will feature more than 20 of the top professional drivers in NHRA racing.
BACKGROUND: This world-class facility has hosted NHRA events in the past starting in 1997 and featured tight racing with many surprise winners. Drivers in the Countdown to the Championship will be looking to gather all the points they can as including this event there will be only four races remaining before champions are crowned for the 2014 season.
Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering 180 acres of prime real-estate, Gateways MSP is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the region, encompassing a 1/4 mile NHRA-sectioned drag strip, 1.2 mile NASCAR oval track, 1.6 mile road course, a new Gateway Karting facility and a new 14-acre off road course. Over the next five years, $20 million will be invested with the goal of attracting grass roots and major motorsports events, entertainment acts, and special public, corporate and private events.
The vision for the new Gateway Motorsports Park is to create a racing lifestyle that attracts enthusiasts, professionals, amateurs and street-car lovers of all kinds by harnessing the grassroots momentum, energy and passion of the thousands of racing enthusiasts and fans in the area.
For more information about Gateway Motorsports Park visit www.gatewaymsp.com.
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